The Magic Of ChristmasSample

“Walk Confidently” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” – Luke 1:38 Have you ever thought about what it was like to be the Virgin Mary? To completely surrender your plans and walk confidently into the future, fully trusting God’s plan? Mary sacrificed much to serve God. Before her visit from the angel, her dreams and expectations for the future and her plans for her child were probably very different from what God ultimately had planned. In that moment, she had no idea what her future would hold, but she trusted God and humbly submitted to his will, not out of fear, but out of worship. She trusted God even though the future was unclear and a little scary. Instead of crumbling under the pressure and fear of an uncertain future, she walked forward in faith. She was faithful and brave despite her circumstances. She recognized that her life belonged to God and that God was with her. I wish I could be more like Mary. She trusted God with the areas of her life that were most precious. She didn’t try to bargain with God or demand more information. She didn’t even weigh the pros and cons. She followed God without hesitation. I would like to think I could surrender my life in the same manner, but I tend to try to hang onto control. Why is it our tendency to doubt God in the areas that matter most? Is it that we doubt God’s goodness? Or is it that we just don’t trust him in times of uncertainty? What is it in us that keeps us clinging to control instead of completely surrendering? I want to get to the point where I can say without hesitation, “YOUR kingdom come. YOUR will be done.” Peace is something we all seek. When life is uncertain, we want to have something that gives us certainty, something to ground us and make us feel safe. Christ gives us that hope in times of uncertainty, and he gives us the courage to walk confidently into the future—just like Mary did. Because God is with us. "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). – Matthew 1:23 Leah Selby Care Network